Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-03-24
SNOW BOUND At EAGLES
BY BRET HARTE.
copyrighted by Houghton, Miif1in & Co., and
published by arrangement with theml

warm air did not, however, bring any change
to their new and constrained relations. 1t
only seemed to offer reason for Falkner to
leave the house very early for his daily
rounds, and gave Lee that occasion for I'M
aided exercise with an extempore crutch on
the veranda which allowed Mrs. Hale to pur-
sue her manifold duties without the necessity
of keeping him company. Kate also, as if to
avoid an accidental meeting with Falkner,
had remained at home with her sister. With
one exception. they did not make their guests
the subject of their usual playful comments,
nor, after the fashion of their sex, quote their
ideas and opinions. That exception was made
by Mrs. Hale
"You have had no difference with Mr..
Falkner," she said, carelessly.
NO." said Kate, quickly. "Whyp
II only thought he seemed rather put out
at dinner last night, and you didn't propose
to go and meet him to-day"
"He must be bored with my company at
times, dare say" said Kate, with an indif.
ference quite inconsistent with her rising
color. II shouldn't wonder If he was a lit
tie vexe1 with Mr. Lees chatting him about
his sport yesterday, and probably intends tc
go further to-day and bring home larger
game I think Mr. Lee very amusing al
ways, but sometimes fancy he lacks feel
ing"
"Feeling! You don't know him, Kate, y
said Mrs. Hale quickly. She stopped herself,
but with half smiling recollection in her
dropped eyelids
swell, he doesn't look very amiable now,
stamping up and down the veranda. Per-
haps you'd better go and soothe him"
"rm really SO busy just now" said Mrs.
Hale, with sudden and inconsequent energy;
nthings have got drcadfully behind in the
last week You had better go, Kate, and
make him sit down, or he'll be OVERRIDING it.
These men never know any medium-in any
thing"
Contrary to Hates expectation, Falkner
returned earlier than usual, and, taking the
invalid's arm, supported him in a more am
bilious walk along the terrace before the
house. They were apparently absorbed in
conversation, but the two women who OBJ
served them from the window could not help
noticing the almost feminine tenderness of
Falkner's manner toward his wounded
friend and the thoughtful tenderness of his
ministering care.
II wonder" said Mrs. Hale, following them
with softly appreciative eyes, 'if women are
capable of as disinterested friendship as meni
never saw anything like the devotion Of
these two creatures. Lookl if Mr.. Falkner
hasn't got his arm round Mr.. Lees waist,
and Lee, with his own arm over Falkner's
neck, is looking up in his eyes. declare,
Kate, it almost seems an indiscretion to look
at them"
Kate, however, to Mrs. Hale's Indignation,
threw her pretty head back and shifted the
air contemptuously. Il really don't see any
thing but some absurd sentimentalisn of
their own, or some mannish wickedness
they're connecting by themselves. l am by
no means certain, Josephine, that Lees influ-
ence over that young man is the best thing
for him.
"On the contrary! Lees influence seems
the only thing that checks his waywardness,"
said Mrs. Hale quickly "I'm sure, If any one
makes sacrifices it is Lee; / shouldn't wonder
that even now he is making some concession
to Fallzner; and all those caressing ways of
your friend are for q purpose. They're not
much different from as, dear"
swell, wouldn't stand there and let them
see me looking at them as il l couldn't bear
them out of my sight for a moment" said
Kate, whis1ing herself out of the room.
They're conceited enough. heaven knows.
already"
That evening at dinner, however, the tive
men exhibited no trace of the restraint or I'M
easiness of the previous day. If they were
less impulsive and exuberant, they were still
frank and interested, and if the term could
be used in connection with men apparently
trained to neither self-control nor repose,
there was certain gentle dignity in their
manner which for the time had the effect Of
lifting them little above the social level Of
their entertainers. For even with oil their
predisposition to the strangers, Kate and
Mrs. Hale had always retained a conscious
attitude of gentle condescension and superb
ority toward them-an attitude not incon-
sistent with stronger feeling, nor altogether
unprovocative of it; yet this evening they
found themselves impressed with something
more than an equality in the men who had
amused and interested them, and they were
perhaps a little more critical and doubtful of
their own power. Mrs Hale's little GIRL who
had appreciated only tho seriousness of the
situation, had made her own application of
it. "Are you DOWN away from Aunt Kate
f..fo rNf
silence.
"How else can get you the red snow we
saw at sunset the other day on the peak yon-
der!' said Lee, gayly. an have to get up
some morning very early and catch it when
it comes at sunrise"
"What is this wonderful snow, Minnie, that
you are tormenting Mr.. Lee fora" asked Mrs.
Hale
"Ohl it's a fairy snow that he told me oil
about; it only comes when the sun comes up
and goes down, and if you catch ever so little
of it in your baud it makes all you fink you
want como true Wouldn't that be nicer
But to the child's astonishment her little
circle of auditors, even while asserting,
sighed
The red snow was there plain enough the
next morning before the valley was warm
with light, and while Minnie, her mother
and aunt Kate we're still peacefully sleeping.
And Mr.. Lee hal kept his word and was evil
IDENTIFY seeking it, for he and Falkner were
already urging their horses through the pass,
with their faces toward and litup by its glow.
CHAPTER VIII.
Kate was stirring early, but not as early as
her sister, who met her on the threshold Of
her room Her face was quite pale, and she
held a letter in her hand. "What does this
mean, Katef'
"What is, the mattern asked Kate, her own
color fading from her cheek
"They ore gone-with their horses. Left